Convention Reviews

Once again, the biggest anime convention of the year has closed. I have a lot of new memories; some good, some I want to forget under a haze of Mountain Dew. But I'm sure that's of little consequence to those of you that didn't make it to Los Angeles. You want to know if this is worth making plans for next year!

That depends on your outlook and your patience. I know some people out there call me a "naysayer" and "negative," but I'm willing to call it like I see it, and there's a few things that should be addressed so others can form their own opinions.

Let's take a walk around the Los Angeles Convention Center and L.A. Live areas, shall we?

REGISTRATION

Registration has become what you’d expect from the last few years, and that means both good things and bad things. Basically, you’re waiting outside the South Hall, under some cover if you were early enough, and, eventually, you would shuffle about 150 yards several times in a zig-zag line before you were brought inside to another line before scanning your badge. It’s a very frustrating process that could do with some refinement. I’m having trouble understanding why it was done in such a way that has people doing an impression of the guards from the Wizard of Oz. It was also very depressing to approach the doors several times only to turn around and have to follow the line in another direction.

Also, to me, and some will see this as a minor issue, but with smaller conventions, including Fanime, you have a sturdy plastic badge. Since 2012, Anime Expo has used cheap badge holders and light cardstock badges. It’s a little depressing to have this be the second most expensive trip of my cycle this year, and the badge is more flimsy than those of conventions one-tenth the size of AX.

DEALER’S HALL

This is probably one of the more balanced groups of dealers in anime conventions. The sellers were covering the gamut of different products that paid homage to fans favorite series, genres, and characters. For the second year in a row, I have been able to find a DVD that has been long out of print and helps fill a gap in my collection. Most of the sellers were very accommodating. One booth by Welovefine.com helped me exchange a children’s sweatshirt a couple of times even though we initially walked away from the booth. Similarly, I was shopping at the ABCToy4Me booth, and one of the workers recognized me as a frequent shopper. Because of that, my daughter received a deal on a small figure that had caught her eye. It’s nice to see that the sellers are so willing to develop personal rapports with the fans.

However, I did not like the overall layout of the vendors. The large companies including Funimation, Aniplex, Bandai Games, and others were at the front of the convention center. In previous years, that may have been preferable, but this was the first year that the large companies had convention exclusives, wares that should not be sold at any other point in time, in their booths. This created lines around a lot of these booths at the front of the convention center. Also, the Artist’s Alley was put at the back of the Dealer’s Hall. I think it makes things rougher for the artists when conventioneers have a chance to spend their money on higher dollar items before they can get back to the artists’ tables.

Crowding was a serious issue again. It seems like Anime Expo is so bent on putting more types of vendors in one room, but the cost of those extra vendors and artists is the walking room. There were very few times I felt comfortable in the Dealer’s Hall by myself, let alone with my kids. One large person nearly tried to crush my daughter at the Welovefine.com booth for a My Little Pony T-shirt. She handled it better than I did, I admit.

PANELS

I did not personally visit any panels since the guest list this year didn’t interest me. I focused more on the social side of the convention.

I did pay attention to the news that only 10 fan panels were given time in the convention schedule this year. That’s a stunningly low amount of time when there’s over three full days of time that the convention is open overall. Additionally, the person in charge of picking the panels, Allison McKnight, was very unsympathetic to the plight of fans, including language in her personal Facebook page like, “It’s not like I raped your baby.” I hope that someone else with more compassion is put in charge of the panel selection process to next year.

HOTEL

I booked my stay at the J.W. Marriott. I’ve become used to the amenities and the gorgeous nature of the hotel. They have ample cabinet and drawer space in the room, as well as large panel TV’s with multiple hookups for your gaming, mobile, and networking devices. The staff could be a little confusing, though. I had a number of rooms and I put a credit card down for the rooms. However, they apparently took a deposit from another card I listed through the CMR Housing Bureau.

There were a few rule changes from last year as well. In 2012, the cosplayers from the Touhou gathering went to the far end of the J.W. Marriott’s third floor with me for pizza and a chance to sit and talk. We tried to do the same thing this year. I even called the hotel’s event services department to discuss the idea, but no one responded to me, so we tried to go to the same place. As I sat and waited, I was escorted from the area and told that only people who rented the area were allowed in it. So, I went to a table near the back of the lobby when the food was delivered. I was then told by hotel staff that the table and the lounge in the lobby were part of the restaurant and I would have to move. I didn’t ask about the other fans in the area drinking Starbucks since they shouldn’t be dragged in. We ended up forming a line of cosplayers outside my hotel room and having them eat in the hallway. The cosplayers were very forgiving and understanding. We’re already talking about the logistics of doing another dinner next year. I was disappointed that a little communication from the hotel could have saved a LOT of drama.

FAN EVENTS

The fans of a convention continue to be a driving force every year. If they weren’t so energetic and emphatic about their hobbies, things like Anime Expo wouldn’t be possible. The fans at Anime Expo were excited and glad to be there, but it did feel like there was a growing contingent of people who are showing up to see other fans and not the convention itself. I overheard several talking about going to other California conventions like Anime Los Angeles and Fanime. This is something that AX will have to address if they want to continue to be the largest convention. Fans can only accept so much before they decide if they have other things to do.

VIDEO GAMING ROOM

This was interesting, if a bit confusing. Firstly, there was the convention standards of table-top games, video game consoles of varying years, and LAN networks of games. One person pointed out that one bank of computers was all Alienware machines running Starcraft I. That was an odd joke running through my group.

There were also arcade machines in the back, though during the day, there was a good amount of them off. I wasn’t sure if they were broken or just not being used, but as a nerd from the 80’s and 90’s, there’s nothing quite as disappointing as a dark screen in an arcade. I could have wasted a lot of time on those machines…

Next to the games was the Cosplay Repair Station, which was well stocked, during the convention, and next door to that were several photo diorama backdrops. They weren’t well advertised, or I think there would have been a couple more groups arranged in them. There was a sakura grove, a moe bedroom, a derelict spaceship hallway, a high school classroom, and a small mausoleum. I'm not sure why these backdrops weren't better advertised! These were a good effort on an idea given a few years ago, however, it was disappointing that there was concrete under most of these dioramas. For example, when you zoom out in the sakura grove, you could see the trees bolted into wooden stands. This would have been really complete with some astroturf.

NIGHT LIFE

Anime Expo was actually more interesting after the sun set. The cosplayers, free of conventional groups, seemed more expressive and eager to just be playful. There was Lounge 21 for those looking for a seat during some live music and a good drink to unwind, or there was the dances for those slightly younger. I say “slightly,” because on Day 3, there was a sudden announcement on AX’s Facebook page that only those 18 and older were allowed in the dances due to “circumstances beyond their control.” No one has elaborated on what those circumstances are.

The video game area lit up at night when there were fewer things to do and people were using the photo sets more freely. Basically, it seemed like a lot of people’s truer natures were coming out and they weren’t prowling weirdos or ne’er-do-wells. They were just people who sought out other people who shared their fandom. If you have a chance next year, I strongly recommend taking a late walk. You’d be surprised how interesting it can be.

HOST AREA

I’m still relatively astonished that people aren’t very familiar with the local area. I walked to several restaurants that served great food between the Bonaventure and the J.W. Marriott, and I still haven’t gone to everywhere I’d like to go. Actually, I found one restaurant that would serve as a great photo backdrop if I can find out how to ask nicely to do it. I’d strongly encourage people to go in groups to local restaurants to eat. You can find most kinds of food within blocks of your hotel.

I know I wrote in my last report that Fanime had more hostile homeless in the area than I’ve seen in the years since Anime Expo went to Downtown Los Angeles. Unfortunately, I’m forced to eat crow. It seems that the homeless were waiting until this year to be more aggressive in Los Angeles. My wife and I were witness to several belligerent vagrants haunting the outskirts of the Staples Center and Downtown Los Angeles.

STAFF/VOLUNTEERS

This is a continued sore spot for the Anime Expo.

I didn’t witness any rude staff this year, though I’ve faced my share of rude and inept staff and volunteers in the last few years. I had started to think things had turned around, but I found a thread on AX’s Facebook page during Day 3 of the convention asking for fans to report any rude staff issues as they occur. By that morning, The thread already had about 100 responses and the large majority were negative, even including some staff calling cosplayers “freaks.”

One staffer responded in the thread stating that staff was surly due to working. That's right. He said that staffers were sad that there were things they didn't get to see because they were working and that made them mad. A response put it well that when you volunteer your time as a volunteer or staff, then you should expect to put in the work, then play. You can't get mad at your guests because you volunteered your time. That's counter-productive.

Now, to put this in a proper viewpoint, some of the “staff” people ran into could have been the Los Angeles Convention Center staff, the red shirts with the EES initials on them. Either way, I would hope that someone would inform the staff, be they AX or Convention Center, what kind of people would be coming and what to expect visually. Either way, the SPJA needs to keep the staffers working with them in the loop and have them be more professional.

I also noted that the Convention Center had several entrances attended by people doing bag checks, supposedly in response to the Boston Marathon incident. If that’s true, they did a poor job. One day, while walking from the J.W. Marriott, I wanted to skip the West Hall Entrance and get to the South Hall for a cosplay gathering. So, I led my daughter through the tunnels behind West Hall, up the stairs behind the Concourse Bridge, and through the rear side entrance of South Hall, where an EES staffer held the door open for me. She never asked to see inside my camera pack, nor my daughter’s purse. My daughter, who is 9 years old, said that was terrible, and asked me what if her purse had explosives? Again, she’s 9. If you’re going to be careful to watch the front, you’ll need to pay attention to the sides and back, as well.

COSPLAY

This hurts me to say it. In my opinion, Anime Expo no longer has the best gathering of cosplayers in California.

I think that, although the cosplayers at AX are certainly good and some of the better cosplayers in the California circuit, I had more shockingly good cosplays pass my view at Fanime.

There were some stand-out cosplayers, though. There was a Hatsune Miku in a ballet tutu doing toe stances, there was Cherry, part of a Naruto improv gathering on Day 4 that repaired a prop using only insulation tape and a wooden sword. I ran across a pair of Sword Art Online cosplayers on Night 3 that really stunned me with their costumes and poses.

I also had my first private photoshoots with a couple of very talented and kind cosplayers. They'll be added as part of our gallery and I look forward to sending them their full packages of pictures soon!

There is by no means bad cosplay at Anime Expo, but there was more at Fanime that had my jaw drop, and I didn’t really even enjoy that convention this year.

OVERALL

The Anime Expo is boasting a 9,000 increase in attendance. I’m trying to decide if that’s a good thing when the cost cutting has hit such an extreme that I was afraid if my badge would be ruined by body sweat and there were very few good places to congregate for any gathering of fans inside. This may not be what the SPJA wants to hear, but there are other good venues that may be better suited to holding the convention, or it may be time to work a different layout if they plan to continue to keep the convention in its current location.

While there are many things to enjoy at the convention, the only thing keeping me going to a convention like this is that other fans continually ask me to attend. This is the only convention I’ve ever seen that is existing in spite of itself.

I really hope that things will change for the better, but the change of the last few years doesn’t give me large hope.

FREIGHT

SECOND REVIEW

With the Fourth of July weekend out of the way, Anime Expo completes its 22nd anniversary event with quite the high attendance. While this may only be the 2nd Anime Expo I have ever attended and was a bit strange for starting a Thursday rather than a Friday like most conventions that are of the 3-4 day range would, I can safely say that this particular convention had quite a lot to offer when it comes to the recent trends along with some stuff for the old-school fans. With a variety of guests from both domestic and international outlets along with a good share of live programming and other con events, Anime Expo brings forth another enjoyable event for many to enjoy.

The South Hall during peak hours. Notice this is near the entrance to the popular Exhibit Hall.

Returning once more to the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) situated in Downtown Los Angeles, Anime Expo continues to make use of the revamped venue along with the neighboring L.A. Live area though not as much as previous years. The LACC plays host to the main attractions of the sought-after panels featuring guests involved in the Japanese animation and entermainment industries alongside the standard Dealer's Hall and Artist's Alley. If you have been going to Anime Expo for years, you would know that the convention combines both the Dealer's Hall and the Artist's Alley in one giant Exhibit Hall. This Exhibit Hall is quite the impressive one with big name companies such as Aniplex, Bushiroad, Good Smile Company, and Sentai Filmworks showing off their stuff alongside the various vendors trying to sell off their own stock of merchandise ranging from figures and trading cards to cosplay items and other miscellanous clothing. For the most part, what you buy will be authentic although Good Smile Company was aware of a vendor selling counterfeit versions of their goods and posted a quick Facebook status update regarding this. The Artist's Alley is placed behind all of the craziness that goes on in the Dealer's Hall, featuring the drawn and handcrafted works of the talented folks that were selected to make the cut out of numerous applicants. For those who want their hands on getting some merchandise signed, autographs are also hosted in the Exhibit Hall. If you are interested in only the shopping aspects of the convention, Anime Expo actually offers Exhibit Hall-only passes for a fraction of the price of a full registration. Anime Expo's gaming room is quite the interesting sight. It is placed in a spacious room in the West Hall area featuring tabletop, console/PC, and arcade games. Alongside these, there are also the new additions of a cosplay photobooth set up by selected members of Cosplay Photographers and cosplay backdrops featuring various settings for photoshoot purposes. For those following Bushiroad card games in particular, the company hosted Weiss Schwarz and Cardfight!! Vanguard workshops in its spacious booth in the Exhibit Hall and also had its own room on the opposite side of the convention center for tournaments and free fights.

"Magi" cosplayers amidst the Los Angeles cityscape in the background.

Registration seems to have quite smoothly this year for most people even with the large increase in attendees this year. The lines were conveniently placed in roofed areas to prevent people from fainting from the summer heat (though this particular Anime Expo did not seem to encounter as much heat as previous years). As for lines, they are typically found when trying to get into panels featuring big name guests like huke (character designer of "Black Rock Shooter" and Steins;Gate") and George Wada (producer of the animated adaptation of "Attack on Titan") to the point where they go over-capacity or when trying to get autographs in the Exhibit Hall. A way to prevent having to wait 1-2 hours before a certain event is to purchase a Premier Fan registration, which costs more than a regular registration but includes various perks including shortened wait times for panels and a complimentary ticket to a main event of your choice.

Accomodations around the LACC might seem different to what some people are used to. While Fanime in Northern California is hosted in an area with many hotels laid within walking distance to the venue, Anime Expo is hosted in a venue located a good distance away from most hotels in its neightboring area. The LACC is within walking distance of the J.W. Marriott and the Luxe, both of which are quite pricey for some folks but is located over half a mile away from cheaper alternatives. Luckily, Anime Expo continues to offer a shuttle service for people who choose these cheaper alternatives. The shuttle service is prone to delay, of course, so some good planning would be required on your part if you wish to make it back to the convention center by a particular time to catch a panel or something of the sort! As a convenience for people who ended up carrying too many things around the convention, Anime Expo also offers bag storage for an additional charge. People considering to head out to Anime Expo for the first time should also be aware that food does not generally come cheap in the area, so do give your budget a bit more leeway for necessities.

Accomodations around the LACC might seem different to what some people are used to. While Fanime in Northern California is hosted in an area with many hotels laid within walking distance to the venue, Anime Expo is hosted in a venue located a good distance away from most hotels in its neightboring area. The LACC is within walking distance of the J.W. Marriott and the Luxe, both of which are quite pricey for some folks but is located over half a mile away from cheaper alternatives. Luckily, Anime Expo continues to offer a shuttle service for people who choose these cheaper alternatives. The shuttle service is prone to delay, of course, so some good planning would be required on your part if you wish to make it back to the convention center by a particular time to catch a panel or something of the sort! As a convenience for people who ended up carrying too many things around the convention, Anime Expo also offers bag storage for an additional charge. People considering to head out to Anime Expo for the first time should also be aware that food does not generally come cheap in the area, so do give your budget a bit more leeway for necessities.

In regards to main events, some people may be surprised to find that Anime Expo charges for things like the Masquerade and concerts. These events are definitely a ground up from what you see at your local, smaller convention in that they are held in better equipped rooms and are ran by more talented folks (no offense to those that work such jobs at smaller conventions, of course). Ticket prices range from $5 for the Masquerade to upwards of $60+ for concerts featuring Japanese musical talent. This year featured a visual kei concert performed by Cell, Moon Stream, and Kaya and Pornograffiti's first American concert, the latter of which was held in Club Nokia in the neighboring L.A. Live area. A large change that previous attendees would have noticed was a shortage of events hosted in the aforementioned L.A. Live area. This was due to other events being scheduled for that area during the days Anime Expo had intended for their own events to take place such as a TXVQ concert. The concerts and the Masquerade did not disappoint for their price they costed with little to no technical problems and good control of the sound and such, but the venue of Hall B of the LACC was a bit questionable due to the flat layout of the room. I guess a livestream onto a screen above the stage would help to remedy this, but I think these concerts would have been better off held at Club Nokia or the Nokia Theater. Panels were also something to be quite worthy of mention. The long lines that some panels experienced prior to their start may have been quite the problem, but this was somewhat "compensated" with the delay in some panels. For the most part, panels were able to start within a reasonable amount of time given the amount of people entering them (we're talking thousands of attendees in some cases) and went very smoothly with no noticeable technical difficulties.

Anime Expo also offers some other stuff on the side. Nightly dances are hosted in the LACC at night with long lines to boot along with a lounge for attendees who are 21 years old or older. The standard karaoke and screening rooms are also found within the confines of the LACC. Based on my own experience, however, there is not much of a night life during Anime Expo, which I would say is due to the exhaustion most people probably felt from walking back and forth between the West and South Halls of the LACC and through the aisles of the Exhibit Hall. Believe me, as a person who has marathon training in the past and still does a bit of long-distance running, Anime Expo still gets me quite exhausted at the end of the day because of the sheer amount of things to do at the convention. Be sure to check out our photo gallery here!____________________________________Rin Dunois